Self-locking fastener



ci. E4, 1947. C, E, WARNER ZQB SELF-Lacune FASTENER Filed Sept. 17. 1942 raiented oct'14, 1947 SELF-Looms FASTENER Chester E. Warner, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to United States Gypsum Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application september 17, 1942, serial No. 45s,ss5

Claims. l

This invention relates to fasteners for securing panels to supports, and more particularly to driving fasteners for securing asbestos shingles or the like to gypsum sheathing. Such shingles are ordinarily formed of hard pressed asbestos cement mixture, and are very tough, strong and rm in texture and capable of retaining a fastener secured thereto or therein.

The shingles are not frangibleand do not easily crumble or break away from plaster. The gypsum sheathing, however, which forms a deck or support to which the shingles are to be secured, is substantially identical with ordinary plasterboard, except that it is usually somewhat thicker and may be provided with somewhat heavier fabric cover sheets.

The core of the gypsum sheathing is very frangible and will not hold a nail or the like in asatisfactory manner. It has been found in practice that when asbestos shingles are secured to a gypsum sheathing deck by means of ordinary driven fasteners, such as nails or .the like, the shingles are easily loosened from the deck by the wind or other conditions, and for this reason, building structures having walls or roofs of this type have been unsatisfactory.

When nails or similar fasteners are driven through the sheathing, small amounts of the sheathing material adjacent the inner surface are apt to be broken away as the fastener is having a driving shank, and an auxiliary shank driven therethrough. This leaves an openingat vholes therethrough to receive nails or similar fasteners. Such holes may be provided when desirable for use in connection with the fasteners of the present invention; however, holes are not required throughv the gypsum sheathing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-locking fastener which may be driven through the shingles and sheathing and secured in place by resilient pressure applied at or adjacent the back of the gypsum sheathing.

A further object is -to provide a fastener to be driven ir. the saine manner as an ordinary nail, and which, when driven completely in, will expand adjacent the piercing end so as to apply a snug resilient pressure within the opening adapted to limit the driving of the piercing end, so that further driving of the shank will cause the fastener to expand adjacent the piercing end and resiliently engage the sheathing to retain the fastener snugly in place.

It is also an object to provide a fastener of the type described having means automatically positioned by driving the fastener completely into place to align a succeeding row of shingles.

Another object is to provide a self-locking fastener which may be made of a single piece of sheet metal if desired, and which will be cheap to manufacture, convenient in use and which will tend to take up any looseness due to the crumbling away of the material of the sheathing after the assembly of the structure.

Further objectskwill be apparent from the speciflcation and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a fastener illustrating one embodiment of the invention and formed of a single piece of sheet metal.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, partly driven in place, with the shingle. and sheathing shown in section.

Fig, 3 is similar to Fig. 2, but illustrates the fastener completely driven in place and. a' succeeding overlapping shingle applied to the structure.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the embodiment shown vin. Figs. l, 2 and 3 may be formed.

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view taken on a line substantially corresponding to line tS- of Fig. 101s a front elevation of the driving shank shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the em- `,bodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 .to 4, inclusive,

comprises a sheet metal fastener, which may be vformed from a suitableblank, such as shown in Fig. 4.

It will be apparent that the fastener may be made in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention; however, in the presentinstance, the fastener illustrated comprises a central elongated driving shank or compression element IV having a piercing end 2 and a 'striking end 3. The blank is sheared along lines 4 and 5 to provide tension arms or elements 6 and I,re

' spectively, which extend parallel with the driving shank from adjacent the piercing end of the fastener, Each arm terminates in,a rearwardly extending ange, head, shoulder or anchorage means 8 having a forwardly extending portion 9,

f so that a portion of the flange will extend on each side of the associated arm and engage a work surface when the fastener is driven in.

The driving shank I extends materially beyond the ends of the arms 5 and 'I and the upper portion of this shank may be corrugated as shown at I Il or otherwise formed in any suitable manner tov reinforce the projecting end portion of the shank, so that any bending which takes place when the fastener is driven will occur adjacent the piercing end.

In the embodiment illustrated, the shank I is provided at its striking end with a, rearwardly extending arm II which terminates in a return hook I2 or abutment, as illustrated.` This hook is of the proper size to engage over the end of an overlapping asbestos shingle or the like, as shown in Fig. 3. The sides of the shank I are cut away by means of perforations I3 and Il, the perforation Il being closelycadjacent the piercing end of the fastener and the perforation I3 being spaced somewhat therefrom. These perforations are for the purpose of weakening the shank along transverse spaced lines, so that when the fastener is completely driven into a support to extend therethrough as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the fastener will automatically take the self-locking form shown in Fig. 3.

The material of the fastener is suiiiciently resiliont and bendable so that during the driving process, the shank will bend along the line of the perforations and assume the required self-locking form with the tension arms 6 and 'I resiliently pressed snugly against one side of the perforation formed by the fastener, and the shank will snugly and resiliently press against the opposite side of the perforation.

It will be apparent that score lines may be made along the dotted lines |311 'and Ila, and, if desired, the perforations may be omitted. Also, the material of the fastener shank may be slightly indented along transverse lines I3b and Mb, as shown in Fig. 7. These perforations and score lines are not essential; however, they assist in forming the fastener in a desired self-locking relationship to the support as it is being driven therein.

Fig. 2 illustrates the fastener driven through asbestos shingles or the like I5 and the associated gypsum sheathing I5 which forms the support for the shingles. The shingles are preferably perforated as shown at I1 (Fig. 6), and this perforation is of a contour to permit the entrance of the 'corrugated portion I0 of the shank,

`As shown in Fig. 2, the flanges 8 are in contact with the outer surface of the shingle I5 and the piercing end of the fastener has been extended completely through the gypsum sheathing I5.

In driving through this sheathing, there is a tendency for the gypsum core to break away slightly adjacent the inner surface as shown at I'I, and the expansion of the inner end of the fastener, when it is completely driven in, brings the tension arms 6 and I andthe shank I into snug resilient self-locking engagement with the sides of the perforation, as shown in Fig. 3.

In the partially driven position of the fastener,

.as shown in Fig. 2, the flanges 8 are in contact with the shingle and further driving of the shank I places the arms 6 and I under increasing tension as the shank is driven in until it is substantially flush with the outer surface of the shingle, in which position the fastener has assumed the self-locking position shown in Fig. 3. The inner end of the fastener thus. forms af'substantially triangular loop in which .that part of the shank forming the base I8 of the triangle retains the adjacent sides of the triangle in snug resilient engagement with the gypsum board.

It will be apparent that the direction in which the shank bends at the score line is unimportant and. that the, triangular self-locking formation will occur if the shank bends in either direction. In fact a very satisfactory fastener may be made Without the use of score lines or perforations.

When the fastener is completely driven in, the arm I I rests at against the surface of the shingle I5 with the hook or abutment I2 in the position shown. This provides a support and alignment for a shingle I5a of a succeeding row.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate another embodiment of the invention, which embodiment comprises a tension shank or arm I9 having a pointed piercing end 20. This arm is provided with a rearwardly extending ange 2l having forwardly extending portions 22, and these flanges and portions funetion in the same manner as the flanges 8 and portions 9 on the previously described tension arms. The flange 2l terminates in a return hook 22a for engaging the lower end of a shingle in the overlapping row. The ange 2I is perforated at 23 to receive a driving shank 24, the upper end of which is preferably corrugated or channel-like in cross section, as shown. The construction of this `arm is illustrated in Fig. 10, and the lower end is provided with an extension or lug 25, which lug is adapted to be inserted through a slot 26 adjacent the piercing end 20 of the tension shank I9. The driving shank 24 is preferably weakened along a transverse line 21 and the driving is Iaccomplished by means of the shoulders 25a engaging the ends of the slot 26. In assembly, the lug 25 is inserted through the s1ot26, and the overlappingtongue 25 and adjacent portions of the tension arm I9 are punched or pressed sufficiently to retain the elements snugly in assembled relation.

When the fastener is driven through the shingle and gypsum sheathing, it assumes the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 9 so that the tension arm and the vshank form the triangular loop illustrated to retain the fastener in resilient engagement in the work in the same manner as pre-V viously described.

Each of the embodiments illustrated discloses an arm terminating in a hook or abutment to align a. succeeding shingle, however, it will be apparent that these elements are not essential and may be omitted if desired.

It is intended, of course, that the invention should not be limited to the specific embodiment or embodiments disclosed, or to the exact details of construction shown, as obvious modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art.

amarre .y having a piercing end and a striking end, said strip being sheared to provide a central driving shank and a pair of oppositely disposed tension arms extending from said piercing end alongside said central driving shank and terminating short of said driving end, said tension arms terminating in laterally extended flanges to limit the driving i of said piercing end by engagement with a work surface, said material being sufficiently resilient -to cause said arms and said shank to bend awair from each other to form a loop at the back of a support when said driving shank is driven in besurface, said material being sufficiently resilient to cause said arms and said shank to bend away from each other'to form a loop at the back of a support when said driving shank is driven in beyond the limit determined by said flanges, said driving shank being weakened on spaced transverse lines adjacent the intersection of said arms and shank to cause said loop to assume a triangular form with the base of said triangle substantially extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of said fastener.

3. A self-locking fastener comprising a sheet metal tension member having a piercing end and a head for engaging a work surface to ,limit the driving of the piercing end, said head comprising flanges extending laterally from each side of said member, one of said flanges terminating in a hook-like abutment for engaging the edge of a shingle or the like overlapping said fastener, one of said flanges having an opening therethrough closely adjacent the body of said tension member, said member having atransverse slot adjacent the piercing end, and a driving member slidably mounted in said opening and having its other end engaged in driving relation in said slot, said driving member being materially longer than said tension member.

4. A driven fastener for securing two panel-like members together including an elongated compression element to be driven through said securable members, an elongated tension element attachedto said compression element adjacent its entering end and drawn by said compressionelement through said securable members, a piercing point secured to said elements and extending a substantial distance forwardly' therefrom, said tension element being provided with anchorage` means brought into engagement with the 'first entered securable member after the entering ends of both said compression element and said ten- 'sion element have passed through said securable members, the forward portions of both the compression `element and the tension element being bendable away from each other laterally in opposite directions from the axis of the hole through securable'member, said compression and tension elements being of sheet material lying in the same general plane.

5.l A' driven fastener for securing two panellike members together including an elongated compression element to be driven through said securable members, an elongated tension element attached to said compression element adjacent 'its entering end and drawn by said` compression element through said securable members, a piercing point secured to said elements and extending a substantial distance forwardly therefrom, said tension element being provided with anchorage means brought into engagement with the first entered securable member after the entering ends oi both said compression element and said tension element have passed through said securable members, the forward portions of both the compression element and the tension element being bendable away from each other laterally in opposite directions from the axis of the hole through the securable members by impact exerted on the compression element after said bendable ends have passed through both said insertable members and said anchorage means has engaged said securable member, said compression and tension elements being in the same general plane and being formed of a single piece of sheet metal.

6. A driven fastener for securing two panellike members together including an elongated compression element to be driven through said securable members, an elongated tension element attached to said compression element adjacent its entering end and drawn by said compression element through said securable members. a piercing point secured to said elements and extending a substantial distance forwardly therefrom, saidv tension element being provided with anchorage means brought into engagement with the first entered securable member after the entering ends of both said compression element and said tension element have passed through said securable sion element after said bendable ends have passed through both said insertable members and said anchorage means has engaged said securable member, said compression and tension elements being in the same general plane and being formed of a single piece of sheet metal and said tension element comprising two tension members extending along opposite edges of said compression element.

7. A driven fastener for securing two panelllike members together including an elongated thesecurable members by impact exerted on the compression element after said bendable ends have passed through both said insertable members and said anchorage means has engaged said compression element to be driven through said securable members, an elongatedtension element attached` to said compression element adjacent its entering end and drawn by said compression element through said securable members, said tension element being provided with anchorage means brought into engagement with the flrst entered securable member after the entering ends of both said compression element and said tension element have passed through said securable members, the forward portions of both the compression element and the tension element being bendable away from each other laterally in opposite directions from the axis of the hole through f the securable members by impact' exerted on the compression element after said bendable ends have passed through both said insertablememg5 bers and said anchorage means has engaged said 7 securable member, said compression and tension elements being oi sheet material lying in the same general piane.

8. A driven fastener for securing two panellike members together including an elongated compression element to be driven through said securable members, an elongated tension element attached to said compression element adjacent its entering end and drawn by said compression element through said securable members, said tension element being provided with anchorage means brought into engagement with the ilrst entered securable member after the entering ends of both said compression element and said tension element have passed through said securable members, the forward portions oi' both the com;

pression element and the tension element being bendable away from each other laterally in opposite directions from the axis of the hole through the securable members by impact exerted on the compression element after said .bendable ends have passed through both said insertable members and said anchorage means has engaged said securable member, said compression and tension elements being in the same general piane andl being formed of a single piece of shet metal.

9. A drivenv fastener for securing two panellike memberstogether including an elongated compression element.to be driven through said securable members, an elongated tension element attached to said compression element adjacent its entering end and drawn by said compression element through said securable members", said tension element being provided with anchoragesion element after said bendable endshave passed through both said insertable members and said anchorage means has engaged `said securable member, said compression and tension elements being in the same general plane and being formed of a single piece of sheet metal and vsaid tension element comprising two tension member-s extending along opposite edges of said compression element.

10. A fastening device for securing substantially fiat panels to a relatively crumbly readily penetrable sheet material of limited thickness which comprises a sharp-ended penetrating compression element, a, therewith associated tension element, and means for engaging the en'd of a fiat panel; said penetrating compression and tension element being made'of sheet metal and adapted to be driven through said sheet material so as to protrude for some distance beyond the reverse Isurface thereof; an anchorage element integral with said tension element and adapted to engage the surface of a secured panel so as to limit thev further movement of said tension element; the ends of said compression and tension elements being bendable from each other laterally in opposite directions behind said sheet material upon the 'further driving of said compression element after the anchorage element has contacted the surface of a secured panel, whereby the panels are securely clamped to said sheet material.

CHESTER E.

REFERENCES -orrEn The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTSv Number Name Date 964,226 Farrand July 12, 1910 1,593,408 Honigbaum July 20, 1926 2,218,753 Johnson Oct. 22, 1940 2,333,930 Hedstrom Nov. 9, 1943 

